Bill Gates No Fan of Zuckerberg’s Global Internet Plan

It’s been a few months since Mark Zuckerberg announced his plan to bring internet access to the developing world, and it seems that not everyone is as enthused by the idea as he is. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates had some less than glowing words for the Facebook CEO’s plans when he was interviewed by CNBC last week.

In August of this year, Zuckerberg announced the goal of Internet.org, an organization aimed at bringing an internet connection to the billions of people around the world who remain without one. As many people know, Bill Gates stepped down from his full time role at Microsoft in 2006, and since then he has focused his energies on philanthropy via the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Charity work done by Gates’ foundation largely focuses on basic human needs such as the eradication of disease around the world.

Gates was not shy to express his opinions on Zuckerberg’s global internet ambitions, stating that he does not believe technology can solve the problems being faced by people in struggling under-developed communities. Making the internet a priority for the whole world is “a joke” according to Gates.

“Which is more important, connectivity or malaria vaccine? If you think connectivity is the key thing, that’s great. I don’t.”